Among the many demonstrations today against the Assad regime and in support of the people, here in Homs, Syria 11/16/12
here in Hama

Aleppo province: A civilian organization, Sedk has set up a new ambulance service in Aleppo. An opposition car bomb exploded at a military checkpoint near the French hospital, killing 3 civilians including a child and 2 Syrian troops. Clashes took place after the attacks in the same area.

Protests against the regime were held in Bustan al-Qasr, al-Ma`adi, Masaken Hanano, Sakhour and Tariq al-Bab. As the Syrian military fired on one of the protests, they killed 6 persons and injured journalists. The Syrian military shelled Bustan al-Qasr (killing 2) and clashes took place in Salahaddin. Explosions went off in Halab al-Jadida. Clashes near the al-Kanadi hospital resulted in the death of an opposition fighter.

Clashes took place at the edges of the 46th division in the western part of the province. Intense gunfire was reported on the Hamdaniyya highway. Anti-regime protests were held in al-Bab, Beza`a, Dabeq, Hayyan and al-Gheylaniyya.

Damascus province: Clashes continued in the Tadamon neighborhood and opposition fighters shelled civilian neighborhoods that have been controlled by the Syrian military.

Houses burning in Sabina. The Syrian military and security forces have deliberately burned homes in areas they wish to punish, in addition to the destruction of homes and busineses by shelling. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBZCPCb_YgM

Anti-regime protests took place in Asali, Jobar and Qabun, and in the towns of al-Malaiha and Daraya. The Syrian military shelled the towns of Kafarbatna, Irbeen , Saqba, and Hosh Arab and the farm areas of Rankous by air causing casualities. A man’s body was found near a checkpoint in Mu`adamiyya. A man’s body was found in the town of Harasta.

Dara`a province: The Syrian military shelled an anti-regime protest in Da’el, killing 1 man. A sniper killed a woman in the city of Dara`a. A body was found in the town of al-Mseifra.

Deir az-Zur province: Heavy clashes occurred between the opposition and the Syrian Republican Guard in the Jubeila neighborhood of the city of Deir az-Zur, killing one defected soldier. Intense fighting in the city have driven out many residents.
Clashes were fought near the Hamdan military airport at the city of Abu Kamal. 15 Syrian troops defected at the al-Hamdan military airport.

Hama province: Anti-regime protests were held which also called for support for the Palestinians in Gaza in the city of Hama in Hamidiyya, al-Jarajma, al-Qusur, Tariq Halab, Old Tariq Halab, Shaykh Mohammad al-Hamed and al-Eleilat and in al-Latamna, Helfaya, Khetab, Kafarzeita, and Qal`at al-Madiq. One man was shot in Nazlet al-Jazdan in the city of Hama. An IED exploded in al-Qusur. The Syrian military carried out raids in the neighborhoods of al-Bashoura and al-Sharqiyya.

Homs province: The opposition attacked a checkpoint in the al-Hula area near al-Sam’alil, and killed 3 Syrian troops. A sniper killed a civilian in al-Hula. The Syrian military shelled al-Bweida al-Sharqiyya. Violent clashes between the opposition and the Syrian government troops took place as the latter tried to invade al-Rastan from the north and then had to retreat.

Hassakeh province: Anti-regime protests took place in Amouda, Deirik, Dirbisiyy, Qamishli, and population centers. A Syrian Kurd was killed in the city of Hassakeh.

Idlib province: Anti-regime protests were held in Has, Banash and al-Habit. An explosion was reported in the city of Idlib today. The Syrian military shelled Ma`arat al-Nu`man, and the outskirts of Has, Kafranbel and Sarmin, and the village of Fayloun.

Raqqa province: Opposition fighters including those from the Nusra Front took over the government building in the town of Debsi Afnan, following clashes in which an opposition fighter was killed. Some unidentified bodies were found in Tal Abyad.

Tartous province: 3 unidentified bodies were found in the city of Banyas.

International: British foreign secretary, William Hague said that Britain will soon decide whether to recognize the new National Coalition of the Syrian Revolution and Opposition. He has met with Ahmad Mouaz al-Khatib and two deputies of the group.

The United Nations has responded in writing to the Syrian government’s claim that it had UN permission to attack the Syrian opposition in the DMZ in the Golan Heights. U.N. Peacekeeping Chief Herve Ladsous wrote that it was a very “serious matter” that the Syrian authorities would make such a claim despite U.N. Security Council resolutions and demanded that the Syrian military cease incursions into the DMZ. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/international/un-protests-to-syria-over-golan-heights-attacks/article4101166.ece
Selected Bibliography on Syria (Sherifa Zuhur, The Middle East: Politics, History and Neonationalism IMEISS, 2005)

_________. “A Reinterpretation of the Origins and Aims of the Great Syrian Revolt 1925-1927.” In Arab Civilization: Challenges, Responses, Studies in Honor of Constantine Zurayk. Edited by George Atiyeh and Ibrahim Oweiss. Albany: State University of New York, 1988.

_________. “Syrian Political Culture.” In Syria: Society, Culture, and Polity. Edited by Richard T. Antoun and Donald Quataert. Albany: State University of New York, 1991.

_________. “Syrian Urban Politics in Transition: The Quarters of Damascus during the French Mandate.” In The Modern Middle East. Edited by Albert Hourani, Philip Khoury, Philip and Mary Wilson. Berkeley: University of California, 1993.

__________. The Political Economy of Syria Under Asad. London: I.B. Tauris, 1995.

__________. “Si Vis Stabilatatem, Para Bellum: State Building, National Security and War Preparation in Syria.” In War, Institutions and Social Change in the Middle East. Edited by Steven Heydemann. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000.

Sluglett, Peter and Farouk-Sluglett, Marion. “The Application of the 1858 Land Code in Greater Syria: Some Preliminary Observations.” In Tarif Khalidi, ed. Land Tenure and Social Transformation in the Middle East. Beirut: American University in Berut, 1984.

Thompson, Elizabeth. “The Climax and Crisis of the Colonial Welfare State in Syria and Lebanon during World War II.” In War, Institutions and Social Change in the Middle East. Edited by Steven Heydemann. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000.

Tibawi, Abdul Latif. A Modern History of Syria, including Lebanon and Palestine. London: Macmillan and New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1969.